Washington Capitals News

Sandin was a surprise scratch on Tuesday, with the Capitals not announcing his absence prior to warmups. Declan Chisholm will slot into the lineup in his place.

Wilson is battling an undisclosed ailment and will miss his first game of the season. The 31-year-old Wilson is having an outstanding season, pacing for career bests in nearly all offensive categories, tallying 34 points (17G / 17A), 97 hits, and 84 shots in 36 games.

With Ryan Leonard (upper body) returning from an injury, the Capitals have sent Miroshnichenko down to Hershey (AHL). Miroshnichenko was drafted 20th overall by the Capitals in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He has spent most of the 2025-26 season in the AHL so far, scoring nine points (4G/5A) in 12 games.

Leonard has been sidelined for nearly three weeks, but is ready to return to the lineup after being activated from Injured Reserve. The 21-year-old rookie was starting to come into his own before his injury, scoring 10 points (4G / 6A) in his last nine games. Ivan Miroshnichenko has been assigned to Hershey (AHL) in a corresponding move.

Wilson is battling an undisclosed ailment and could be at risk of missing his first game. The 31-year-old Wilson is having an outstanding season, pacing for career bests in nearly all offensive categories, tallying 34 points (17G / 17A), 97 hits, and 84 shots in 36 games.

The Capitals have lost six of their last 10 (4-3-3) and hope to enter the Holiday Break on a high note, with Thompson tending the twine against the New York Rangers. The 28-year-old Thompson has been stellar this season, posting a 2.09 GAA and .924 SV% in 25 games (14-8-3). He has two shutouts in his last five games (2-2-1). The Capitals enter Tuesday's contest as -163 home favorites against a Rangers team that is tied for the league lead with 13 road wins.

Liljegren did not play in San Jose's most recent game and will remain out of the lineup on Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights. The 26-year-old defenseman has missed several multi-game stints due to injuries in the last month. He has four assists in 28 games this season.

Lindgren allowed five goals on 32 shots in the Capitals' loss in Minnesota on Tuesday. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for Lindgren, who is 4-1-1 with an .899 SV% since the beginning on November. Today he'll face the Red Wings on the second-half of a home-and-home, and Washington heads into Detroit as +102 underdogs.

Lindgren allowed five goals on 32 shots in the Capitals' loss in Minnesota on Tuesday. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for Lindgren, who is 4-1-1 with an .899 SV% since the beginning on November. Today he'll face the Red Wings on the second-half of a home-and-home, and Washington heads into Detroit as +102 underdogs.

Trineyev recently made his NHL debut, going without a point in two games with the Capitals. He returned to the AHL, where he has 12 points (6G / 6A) in 16 games with Hershey (AHL). Ivan Miroshnichenko has been recalled from Hershey in a corresponding move.

Miroshnichenko was drafted 20th overall by the Capitals in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He has spent the entire 2025-26 season in the AHL so far, scoring nine points (4G/5A) in 12 games. Bogdan Trineyev has been loaned to Hershey in a corresponding move.

Leonard is only two weeks into his initial three-to-four week recovery timeline and is seemingly slightly ahead of schedule, returning to practice on Friday. The 21-year-old rookie was starting to come into his own before his injury, scoring 10 points (4G / 6A) in his last nine games.